Hwang Sun-hong waits anxiously for Lee Kang-in (21-Paris Saint-Germain).

The Asian Games soccer team departed from Incheon International Airport on Saturday for Hangzhou, China, where the tournament will be held. Head coach Hwang Sun-hong, his coaching staff and 21 players traveled with the team.

Ace Lee Kang-in was not among them. The Korea Football Association announced that Lee Kang-in will join Hwang in China after the team’s 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League group stage first leg against Borussia Dortmund on Sept. 20. Lee is expected to arrive at the national team camp in the late afternoon of the 21st.

For Hwang, the timing of his arrival is disappointing. South Korea will play their first group game against Kuwait on the 19th before facing Thailand on the 21st. Lee will join the team after already jumping two games. Considering the absolute lack of training time, personal conditioning, and jet lag, he’ll be joining the team a bit later than expected.

The first game he will be able to play is against Bahrain on the 24th. However, Hwang said he doesn’t want to use Lee too much or too quickly. “I think we need to look at his condition and other things. After watching him play in the Champions League and joining the team, I will calculate when he is at his best and try to use him,” he said. “I will decide when to use him by considering many aspects rather than using him quickly.”

Lee injured his thigh muscle late last month. He was out of action for about three weeks and has only been training for less than a week. It’s clear that there are still issues with his match fitness. He also missed the league match against Nice on October 16, so it’s clear that he’s still not 100%. Hwang thinks it’s best to wait and see how he performs against Dortmund and how he feels afterward.

According to Hwang, there’s no need to rush Lee too early. South Korea can get through the group stage of the Asian Games without him. In the end, it’s the quarterfinals and beyond that matter. It’s not too late to start using Lee Kang-in.

Lee Kang-in is already a key part of the A team. He is also an indispensable offensive resource for Hwang Sun-hong. Although he hasn’t played for the team in over a year, he is expected to play a big role due to his basic skills.

Lee has been particularly strong at tournaments for his country. He was one of the best players at the 2019 U20 World Cup in Poland, leading his team to a runner-up finish, and he was also outstanding at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, helping South Korea reach the round of 16.

With such a big presence, his teammates are looking forward to his arrival. National team captain Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai) said, “Kang-in is a player in an important position. The players talked a lot about when he would join the team. We all wanted to get together and prepare, but there are some regrets. I’m in contact with Kang In-woo,” said Baek Seung-ho, captain of Jeonbuk Hyundai. “I felt that the team was coming together as a unit during the workout. Even though he is missing, if he joins us, we will be able to work well as a team and win the gold medal 카지노,” he said.